Strip straightening and cutting machine



June 23, 1931. G. F. MATTESON STRIP STRAIGHTENING AND CUTTING MACHINE Filed Sept. 28, 1928 2- Sheets-Sheet l June 23, 1931. G. F. MATTESON STRIP STRAIGHTENING AND CUTTING MACHINE Filed Sept. 28, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 TOP/YE Y Patented June 23, 1931 j UNITED {STATES PATENT- OFFICE I GEORGE E. MA'r'rEsoN, or RC'CKY I L, CONNECTIC T, ASSIGNOR TO ,TI-IVE'F. i3. sHUs'rEn OMPANY, or NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION or CONNECTICUT STRIP STRAIGHTEN'ING, AND cutr'rrlv MA HI E Application filed'september 23. 1928 Sam No. 302,977.

- My invention relates touthe class of machines employed for straightening strips of metal and for cutting said strips intopredetermined lengths, and an object of my 6 inventionramong others, is the production of a machine of this. class that shall be simple in construction and particularly simple and eflicient in operation. 7

One form of machine embodying my invention and in the construction and use of which the objects herein set out, as well as others, may be attained, is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure ,1 is a view in side elevation-0f a machine embodying my invention.

.Figure 2 is an end-view of the same.

Figure 3 is a-detail view in cross section on a plane denoted by the dotted line 33 ofFigure 1. 7;: Figure 4 is adetail view illustratingthe construction andfoperation of the cutting and stamping mechanism. Figure:5 is a similar view of. the cutter frame-and contained mechanism but looking in a direction at right angles from the point of viewof Figure 4; p v H Figure 6 is a detail view i cross section 'onaplane denoted by'the dotted line 6'6 ofFigure i. V, Figure. 7 is a detail :view of a fragment .of the pulleyshowing the means: for clamp- .ing the cable thereto. 7 V

. Figure 8 is a detail view in cross section on a plane denoted byfthe dotted 'line-"88 of, Figure 7.. 1 e u In'the accompanying drawings the numeral 5 denotes the table of my improved machine that may be supported in any suitable manner, as onstandards 6,located at or near each. end of the machine,- therebeing such suitable-number of standards as may be desired. straightener 7 is located at one end of the table, this straightener being of any well known typeand for whichreason a v detailed illustration and description thereof are omitted herein. 1

My improved machine contemplates a structure in which a maximum amount-of movement'of a strip at" each operation may be obtained aiscompared with-prior devices while maintaining the parts for effecting such movement within practical limits as to size. This is accomplished by means of a drawer 8 slidably mounted upon guides '9 projecting from opposite sides of asupport 1O secured-to and rising from the table 5, and as shownin Figures 1- and 30f the drawings,-the base 11 of the drawer having suitably formed grooves to receive said guides in a manner that "will be readily understood. "A drawer actuator in the form ofa cable 12 is secured in any suitable manner'byits opposite ends to the drawer 8, one of these attachments preferably being adjustable by means of which the tension of the actuator may be regulated. This actuator passes around 'guide sheaves 13 located at opposite ends of the "support 10, said actuator thus in effect being an endless member. One of its lengths, the lower one as shown herein, intermediate itsends, passes in contact with or around a feed pulley '14 having a groove to receive the actuator 12. Y e r r The pulley lhas an oscillating movement imparted by means of arack 15 slidably mounted in a box 16 on a support 17 projecting laterally from a leg 4. This rack meshes with a pinion 18 mounted on a stud projecting from the side of said legwhich is located intermediate the standards 6,and as shown in Figure 1 of the drawings. This stud is supported at its outer end by a bracket 35 secured tothe side of the table 5 and projecting downwardly therefrom. The rack 15'has-a pitman comprising a connecting bar 19 pivotally attachedat one end to therack and at its opposite end to a stud 53 on an adjustable block operated by ;a screwthreaded rod 20. jSaidrod at its end opposite the 'bar 19 isengaged with ablock 21 secured in a slot' 22in the side of a feed actuating disc '23 secured to a shaft 36 rotatably mounted as in a bracket 52 extend-t ing from'the under side of the table5.

A gear'37'o'n shaft 36'meshes with a driving pinion 24 s'ecuredto the driving shaft =25 mounted in a-bearing onthe table 5,

and as shown inFigure 2 of the drawings.

A driving pulley'26is secured to the shaft the drawer 8,131115 gripper being of that type whereby when the drawer is moved forward it will grip and hold a strip of stock 28, and when moved in the opposite direction said jaw will be automatically released from the strip and permitted'to slide freely therealong. This drawer comprising a gripper is in fact a feeding device andoperates not only to feedthe stock to the cutting or other mechanism, but also to aid the movement of the stock through the straightener when the latter is used. 1

It will be observed that this machine embodies means whereby the drawer 8 through the actuator 12 may have a maximum range of movement imparted by simple mechanism, the members of which are extremely limited in size. 7 In the arrangement herein shown awide range of movement is obtainable and by simply changing the gear mechanism connected with the rack 15 to a very limited extent a much wider range of movement may be obtained. V

My improved mechanism embodies a cutter for producing strips ofa predetermined length from the stock 28, this length,

however, being governed by the feed device hereinbefore describe'dJ The cutter is timed to operateduring the period in which the drawer is moving'backwardly to the point for beginning the feed of a strip of stock. The time of operation of the cutter during this period is automatically determined by reason of its connection with the feeding mechanism, such connection embodying a cutter operating gear 29 mounted in bearings on a cutter frame 30 secured to and rising from the table 5. This gear 29 meshes with the pinion 24 and is driven thereby. A crank 81 is carried by a shaft 32 on which the gear 29 is mounted, this crank operating a connecting bar 33,the lower end of which is pivotally attached to a carrier 34 mounted in any suitable manner to act upon the strip of stock 28 and sever it into lengths, by means of a cutter to be hereinafter described.

It willbe noted that the gears 37 and29 V are of the same size and that each therefore completes its rotation. at the same time as the other. The movement ofthe drawer 8 to feed the'stock and its reverse movement will take place during one complete rotation shown in dotted lines Figure '4 and at its latter is, therefore, maintained in th'e'position to which it is drawn by the feed.

' In the structure herein shown, a stamping cam.38 is secured to the shaft 32 for operation of a bell crank lever, comprising an arm 39, arrock shaft 40, and a plunger operating arm 41, said arms being secured to the rock shaft at opposite ends thereof, and

as shown in Figure 5of the drawings. An ad ustmg screw in the arm 41 operates against the end of a stamping plunger 42, mounted for longitudinal movement in 'a boss 43, on the frame 30. The plunger is forced upwardly as by means of a spring,

lower end thrusts against a rocker 44, pivotally mountedat the lower end of the frame 30 and having a stamp 45 adapted to be forced against the stock 28 to make an impression thereon. The cam 38 is formed to" maintain the stamp 45 in contact with the stock 28 when the drawer. 8 is moved backwardly, the stamp therefore acting to hold the stock against backward movement at this time and as herein before described. In the particular form of. cutting mechanism as herein shown, the crank '31projects from a crank disk 46 and the carrier 34 has an inclined opening inwhich a cutter 47 is adjustably secured as by means of a screw 48. This cutter operates in connection with a cutting die 49secured-in an opening in the lower end ofthe frame 30, and as shown in Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawings. 7 Y

The actuator or cable 12 is secured to the pulley 14 as. by means of a clamp 50 herein shown in the form of a hook to receive the cable, said. hook being held. in place-by a clamp nut 51,- as shown in Fig. 8 of the drawings. In the preferred form of construction, as shown in Figure'7,a recess,is formed in the periphery of thepulley 14 into which the cable is drawn by the clamp 50. 'The pcable'may be engaged with only a portion of the periphery of the pulley,14 or it may be preferably wrapped one or more times around said pulley. By means of this clamp,- the positionof the cable on the pulley14may' be changed and thereby the zone of movement of the drawer 8 may be fixed at any desired location, so that when a length of stockless thanthatrwithin the maximumlimits of the machine is being fed,the'- drawer may reciprocated at either end of its zone of movement or intermediate thereof.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes I have described the principles of operation of my invention, together with the device which I now consider to represent the best embodiment thereof; but I desire to have it understood that the device shown is only illustrative and that the invention may be carried out by other means and applied to uses other than those above set out.

I claim: I i

1. A feeding device for metal working machines, said device including an endless, flexible actuator, guides for said actuator, said actuator including a gripper interposed in the length of said actuator and located and movable in line with and wholly between said guides, means for effecting a reciprocating movement of said actuator, and means on said gripper for automatically gripping a piece of stock when the gripper is moved in one direction but to release said stock when the gripper is moved in an opposite direction.

2. A feeding device for metal working machines, said device including a gripper, a flexible actuator having its opposite ends secured to said gripper to comprise therewith an endless structure, means on said gripper for automatically gripping a piece of stock when the gripper is moved in one direction, but to release said stock when the gripper is moved in an opposite direction, and means for eflecting a reciprocating movement of said actuator.

3. A feeding device for metal working machines, said device including a gripper and an endless, flexible actuator secured at its opposite ends to said gripper to comprise an endless structure, one end of the actuator being adjustably secured to the gripper, means on said gripper for automatically gripping a piece of stock when the gripper is moved in one direction, but to release said stock when the gripper is moved in the opposite direction, and means for effecting a reciprocating movement of said actuator.

4. A feedingdevice for metal working machines, said device including a gripper, a guide upon which said gripper is slidably mounted, an actuator comprising a flexible member having its opposite ends secured to said gripper to comprise an endless member, means on said gripper for automatically gripping a piece of stock when the gripper is moved in one direction, but to release said stock when the gripper is moved in the opposite direction, and means for causing movement of said gripper back and forth.

5. A. feeding device for metal working machines, said device including an endless, flexible actuator, guides for said actuator,

said actuator including: a gripper interposed in the 'length :of said actuator and located and movablenwhollyabetween said guides,

meanson said gripperto grasp a piece ofsaid gripper in movements thereof back and forth, 11163118 on said gripper to grasp' a piece of stock, a pulley rotatably mounted, meansfor adjustably securing said actuator to'the peripheral edge of said pulley, and

means for oscillatingsaid pulley. i r

7 A feeding device for metalworking, machines, said device including an endless,

flexible actuator and said actuator including a'gripper interposed in the length of said actuator, means on said gripper for graspingv a piece of stock, a pulley rotatably mounted, means on said'pulley for securing said actuator thereto in different positions, and means for oscillating said pulley. 8. A feeding device for metalworking machines, said device including anendles's, flexible actuator and said actuator including a gripper interposed in the length of said actuator, means on said gripper to grasp a piece of stock, a rotatably mounted pulley to which said actuator is secured, a rack-and pinion connection for oscillating said pulley, and means for eflectingreciprocating movements of said rack. f

9. A' feeding device for metal-working machines, said device including a gripper mounted for reciprocating movement and having means to grasp "a piece of stock,

means'for reciprocating said gripper, a feed actuating disk, a member mov'able radially said member indifferent positions, and a connection betweennsaijd member and the reciprocating means for said gripper for reciproing a piece of stock, a pulley to which said actuator'is attached, a feed actuating disk,

a member radially -m0vable on said disk, means for securing said member in different positions on said disk, and a connection be tween said member and said pulley for os-' cillating the latter. V

11. A feeding device for metal working machines, said feeding device including an endless, flexible actuator and said actuator including a gripper interposed in the length of said actuator, means'for movingsaid actuator back and forth, means onsaid gripper for grasping a piece of stock, a member for engaging said piece of stock for an operation thereon, and means for causing engagement of said member with said stock during I a backward movement of saidgripper.

.12. A feeding device for metalworking machines, said device including an endless, flexible actuator, and said actuator including a gripper interposed in the length of said actuator, means on said gripper for grasping a piece of stock, means for imparting cycles of movement to said actuator, each cycle including a movement thereof back'and forth, a member to efiect an operationupon said stock during each cycle of movement of said member, and means for synchronizing the cycles of movement of said member and of said actuator. V

13. A feeding device for metal .Working machines, said device including an endless, flexible actuator and said actuator including a gripper interposed in the length of said actuator, means on said gripper for grasping a piece of stock, means for effecting cycles of movement of said actuator, each cycle comprising a movement thereof back and forth, means for changing the, length of said cycle of movement, a member for performing an operation upon said stock during each cycle of movement, of said member, and means for synchronizing the cycles of movement of said actuator and of said member. 7 c 7 I 14. A feeding device for metal Working machines said device including an endless, flexible actuator and said actuator including a gripper interposed in the length of said actuator, means on said ripper for grasping a piece of stock, means or effecting cycles of movement of said actuator, each i cycle including a movement back and forth 7 thereof, means for changing the zone of movement of said gripper, amember for performing an operation upon saidstock during each cycle'of movement of said member, and means, for synchronizing the cycles of movement of said actuator and of said member,irrespective of thedegree of movement of said gripper.

,GEORGE F. MATTESON. V, 

